Monday, October 8, 2007

Formula 1's World Driver Championship is still wide open as Championship leader Lewis Hamilton failed to fnish the race in the Chinese Grand Prix and Kimi Raikkonen snatched victory for Ferrari.

Now the situation is thatDefendin ChampionFernando Alonsois only4 pointsandKimi Raikkonen only 7 points behind the leader Lewis Hamilton to set up an enthralling three-man battle for the drivers' crown in the final race of the season in Brazil on October 21.

Britain's Hamilton still leads with 107 points from Alonso's103 with Raikkonen on 100 points after his fifth victory of the season. This win is the 200th win overall for Ferrari.

It will be the first time since 1986 that three drivers go into the final round of the season stillin contention for the drivers' crown.

Hamilton, 22, looked on course to become the first rookie and the youngest driver in history to win the world championship until it all went wrong when his intermediate tyres suddenly became un-drivable in the changing track conditions caused by the on-off rain, on lap 31 of the 56-lap race.

Raikkonen took the lead from Hamilton in the middle of the race to to claim the 14th victory of his career.

Double world champion Alonso had looked a beaten man after qualifying fourth but now finds his bid to become only the third man to win a hat-trick of titles.

Brazil's Felipe Massa filled the other podium place Sunday for Ferrari.

Toro Rosso'sSebastian Vettel finished a career best 4th with his team-mate Tonio Liuzzi6th separated by Britain's Jenson Button, who finished finished 5th for Honda.

Germany's Nick Heidfeld was 7th for BMWSauber with David Coulthard picking up the final point for Red Bull.